Combination luggage case,ironing board and table



May 19, 1970 L ETAL 3,512,620

COMBINATION LUGGAGE CASE, IRONI'NG BOARD AND TABLE Filed May 21, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS HARRY ABELL HARRY WBELL 3y HOWARD A.BELL

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May 19, 1970 BELL. ET AL COMBINATION LUGGAGE CASE, IRONING BOARD AND TABLE Filed May 21, 1968 3 Sheets-SheeiZ SLLL S RLLL v EE m WA/b vvo g T 4 A w HA H0 May 19, 1970 A BELL ETAL 3,512,620

COMBINATION LUGGAGE CASE, IRONING BOARD AND TABLE I Filed May 21, 1968 s Sheets-Sheet s III/II II I I II I [NVENTORJ HARRY 1.35.11. HARRY W BELL HOWARDA.BELL

flmmfjuu ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,512,620 COMBINATION LUGGAGE CASE, IRONING BOARD AND TABLE Harry A. Bell, Harry W. Bell, and Howard A. Bell, all of Rte. 1, Box 106, Hamilton, Mont. 59840 Filed May 21, 1968, Ser. No. 730,722 Int. Cl. A47b 85/00 U.S. Cl. 190-11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is in the nature of an improvement on the structure disclosed in the prior U.S. Letters Pat. No. 3,326,337, issued to applicant Harry A. Bell. The disclosed structure utilizes a cover comprising a pair of leg members and a truncated V-shaped nose panel, and a removable inner cover or partition between said cover and the interior of the luggage case. With this arrangement, when the device is used as a table or ironing board, and it is desired to remove articles from the interior, it is necessary to invert the entire structure to remove the partition element without spilling the contents of the case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An important object of this invention is the provision of a combination luggage case, table and ironing board, in which the contents of the case are readily accessible to the user when the case is being used as a leg supported table or ironing board, without inverting or otherwise disturbing the table or ironing board arrangement.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a combination luggage case, table and ironing board, in which the supporting structure is disposed outwardly of the luggage case at all times, without the necessity of a, removable partition.

T o the above ends, we provide a generally rectangular case comprising spaced side and end panels and a base panel rigidly secured to the side and end panels to provide an open-topped compartment, and a cover for the compartment hinged to one of the side or end panels and which, in its closed position, provides a table top or a portion of an ironing board. A truncated V-shaped nose panel has its wide end hinged to one of the end panels, and a pair of leg members, of generally right triangular shape, have their base ends hingedly mounted on the opposite end panel, the nose panel and leg members being movable between folded co-planar positions underlying the base panel and operative supporting positions depending from the case and generally normal to the base panel. The nose panel is movable to a second operative position in co-planar abutting relationship with the cover, and cooperates therewith to provide an ironing board, the nose panel having foldable auxiliary leg structure to support a nose panel and adjacent end of the case.

Other features of this invention include bottom and end wall portions of the luggage case movable in directions to permit passage of said auxiliary leg structure between folded and operative positions, and inter-engagice ing portions between the nose panel and leg members in thelr folded positions for exclusion of moisture and dust from the inslde of the nose panel and leg members.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a combination luggage case, ironing board and table, produced in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the device of FIG. 1, showing one of the leg members in an operative position and the nose panel in one of its operative positions;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is view in side elevation, showing the device of this invention when used as an ironing board;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in horizontal section and partly in bottom plan, taken substantially on the line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5, and rotated substantially FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 1, and rotated substantially 90; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 88 of FIG. 3, and rotated substantially 90;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The luggage case of this invention is shown in a closed condition in FIGS. 1 and 3, and comprises a rigid generally rectangular frame 10 including a pair of laterally spaced parallel side walls 11 and 12 and second end panels 13 and 14 respectively, and a generally rectangular base or bottom panel 15 rigidly secured to the side and end panels 11-14 and cooperating therewith to define an open-topped luggage compartment 16. The open top of the compartment 16 is normally closed by a generally rectangular cover 17 that is secured to the side wall 12 by hinges 18, and releasably locked in closed position by conventional snap locks or latches 19, see particularly FIGS. 1 and 2. The cover 17 as well as the side end and bottom panels 11-15 are lined with suitable padded lining material, as indicated at 20. The case is further provided with a conventional carrying handle 21 shown as being mounted on the exterior of the side panel 11. In the normal loading or unloading position of the case, the side and end panels are generally vertically disposed as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.

Disposed downwardly or outwardly of the base panel 15 are a pair of laterally spaced rigid leg members 22 of generally right triangular shape, and an intermediate section or ironing board nose panel 23, which is selectively used as a supporting leg, as will hereinafter become apparent. The leg members 22 have their base ends 24 each secured to the end panel 14 by aligned hinges 25 for movements of the leg members 22 between inoperative folded positions parallel to the base panel 15 and operative supporting positions generally normal to and extending downwardly from the base panel 15, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The leg members 22 are releasably locked in their operative case supporting positions by a pair of lockable brace members 26 of the folding type normally used on card tables. When the leg members 22 are swung to their folded positions of FIGS. 1 and 3, portions of the brace members 26 are received in wells 27 at adjacent corner portions of the case or frame 10 thereof. The laterally inner or hypotenuse edge portions of the leg members 22 are inturned to provide longitudinally extending flanges 28 the free edges 29 of which are out-turned to provide longitudinal channels 30, see FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 7.

The truncated V-shaped nose panel 23 is formed to provide inturned longitudinal flanges 31, an outer end flange 32 at its narrow end, an inturned mounting panel 33 at its wide end, and gusset portions 34 connecting the adjacent end portions of the flanges 31 to the mounting panel 33. The mounting panel 33 is pivotally secured to the end panel 13 by a pair of aligned recessed hinges 35 located so as to dispose the outer surface of the nose panel 23 in coplanar relationship with the outer surface of the cover 17, when the nose panel 23 is pivotally moved into a position to cooperate with the cover 17 to provide an ironing board, as shown by full lines in FIG. 4. Recessing of the hinges 35 permits the mounting panel 33 to abut the end panel 13, when the nose panel 23 is swung into co-planar relationship with the cover 17, so that there is no appreciable gap between the cover 17 and nose panel 23, when the nose panel 23 is moved to its ironing board position.

The nose panel 23 and adjacent end of the case are supported by collapsible support means including an auxiliary leg member 36 operatively connected to the interior of the nose panel 23 by first and second pairs of braces 37 and 38. The braces 37 have inner ends pivotally mounted in brackets 39 secured to the inside of the nose panel 23 adjacent the mounting panel 33, and their outer ends pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the auxiliary leg member 36, as indicated at 40. The braces 38 have inner ends pivotally mounted in brackets 41 secured to the inside of the nose panel 23 intermediate the end flange 32 and mounting panel 33, and outer ends pivotally secured to the inner end portion 42 of the auxiliary leg member 36, as indicated at 43. The axes of the pivotal connections between the braces 37 and 38 to the nose panel 23 and auxiliary leg member 36 are parallel to the common axis of the hinges 35, the arrangement being such that the auxiliary leg member 36 may be swung between an inoperative folded position substantially against the inner surface of the nose panel 23 and an operative nose panel supporting position shown by full lines in FIG. 4. The auxiliary leg member 36 is provided at its floor engaging end with a conventional rubber tip or the like 44 which, in the folded position of the auxiliary leg member 36, is disposed closely adjacent the mounting panel 33. The leg member 36 is releasably held in its folded position by a generally U- shaped spring clip 45 rigidly secured to the inner surface of the nose panel 23. A pair of lockable brace member 46 are each pivotally secured at one end to a different one of the side panels 11 and 12, as indicated at 47, and at their other ends each to a different one of the braces 37 by pivot pins or the like 48. The base panel 15 of the frame is formed to provide a pair of wells 49 for reception of the lockable brace members 46 and the gusset portions 34 of the nose panel 23 when the nose panel 23 is moved to its folded position in underlying parallel relationship to the bottom or base panel 15.

Not only is the nose panel utilized as a portion of an ironing board when swung into the plane of the cover 17, as above described, it may also be utilized as a supporting leg for the adjacent end of the case when it is desired to utilize the case as a table. When such use is desired, it is only necessary to swing the nose panel 23 from its folded position against the base panel to a position substantially normal thereto, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, and by dash lines in FIG. 4. The nose panel 23 is releasably held in this position by the lockable brace members 46 and engagement of the auxiliary leg member 36 by the clip 45. Thus, the luggage case is supported at a convenient height above the floor for loading or unloading of the luggage compartment 16 and, with the cover 17 closed, the same may be used as a table, vanity or the like. Then, when it is desired to raise the nose panel 23 to a level with the cover 17, it is only necessary to either manually remove the auxiliary leg member 36 out of engagement with the spring clip 45 and swing the nose panel 23 outwardly and upwardly to its horizontal operative position. During this outward and upward swinging movement of the nose panel 23, the floor-engaging end or tip 44 of the auxiliary leg member 36 will swing inwardly and downwardly toward the end panel 13. The end panel 13 and adjustment end portion of the base panel 15 are formed to provide an elongated slot 50 for passage therethrough of the tip end 44 of the auxiliary leg member 36 so that the leg 36 may swing from its inoperative position of FIG. 2 to its operative supporting position shown by full lines in FIG. 4. As best shown in FIG. 6, the slot 50 is normally closed by base and end panel portions 51 and 52 respectively, these panel portions being adapted to be pivotally moved inwardly of the compartment 16 to permit passage of the free or tipped end portion of the auxiliary leg through the slot 50, as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 6. It will here be noted that the lockable braces 46 not only hold the nose panel in its intermediate leg forming position of FIG. 2, but also cooperate with the braces 37 and 38 to rigidly brace the auxiliary leg member 36 when the case and nose panel are used as an ironing board. It will be further noted that the floor-engaging end portion of the auxiliary leg 36 moves through the slot 50 during return movement of the nose panel 23 from its ironing board forming position of FIG. 4, to its folded position of FIG. 1.

When the leg members 22 and nose panel 23 are moved to their folded positions of FIGS. 1, 3 and 7, the leg members 22 are folded first, after which the nose panel 23 is swung to its closed or folded position. With reference particularly to FIG. 7, it will be seen that, when the nose panel 23 is moved to its closed or folded position, the side flanges 31 thereof move into face-to-face substantially abutting engagement with the inturned flanges 28 of the leg members 22, the inner edges of the flanges 31 becoming seated in the channels 30 of the flanges 28'. This arrangement provides for effective sealing between the leg members 22 and nose panel 23 against entry of dust or moisture. The outer edges of the leg members 22, the free edge of the nose panel flange 32 and the inter-engaging marginal edges of the frame 10 and cover 17 have overlapping portions to seal against dust and moisture in the usual manner. The leg members 22 and nose panel 23 are releasably locked in their folded positions by a conventional latch 53 mounted on the end panel 14 and a cooperating strike element 54 on the end flange 32 of the nose panel 23.

From the above, it will be seen that the luggage case of this invention may be loaded or unloaded by merely opening the cover 17, whether the leg members 22 and nose panel 23 be disposed in their folded positions or in either operative position of the nose panel 23 and operative position of the leg members 22. Further, the leg members 22 and nose panel 23 may be moved between their inoperative and operative positions without materially disturbing the contents of the compartment 16. The frame 10, cover 17, leg members 22 and nose panel 23 may be made from any suitable material, but are pref erably made from plastic impregnated glass fibers or like materials presently used in the manufacture of luggage. The auxiliary leg 36 and braces 37 and 38 are preferably constructed from metallic tubing, the lockable braces 26 and 46 being constructed of metallic bar stock or the like. I

It will be noted that the longitudinal dimension of the nose panel 23 is substantially greater than that of the leg members 22, this difference in longitudinal dimensions is compensated for in order to maintain the case substantially level when used as a table or ironing board, by disposing the axis of the leg member hinges 25 adjacent the base panel 15, and the axis of the hinges 35 intermediate the base panel 15 and the upper marginal edge thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination luggage case, ironing board and table comprising:

(a) a generally rectangular frame including a pair of laterally spaced normally vertical side panels, longitudinally spaced first and second normally vertical end panels, and a generally rectangular normally horizontal base panel rigidly secured to the side and end panels and cooperating therewith to define an open topped storage compartment;

(b) a generally rectangular cover hingedly secured to one of said panels to provide a closure for said compartment;

(0) an ironing board nose panel having a truncated V-shape and inside and outside surfaces, said nose panel having a length equal to the length of said base panel and a wide end having a width substantially equal to the length of said first end panel, said wide end having a mounting panel connected thereto perpendicular to the nose panel;

(d) first hinge means connecting said mounting panel to said first end panel for movements of said nose panel between an inoperative folded position in downwardly spaced generally paralle relation to said base panel, and first and second operative positions, said nose panel being generally normal to said base panel in said first operative position and disposed in the plane of said cover in said second operative position when the cover is closed, to define with said cover a fiat continuous surface for use as an ironing board;

(e) collapsible support means mounted on the inside surface of said nose panel for supporting said nose panel in said second operative position thereof;

(f) a pair of leg members of generally right triangular shape disposed adjacent opposite longitudinal edges of said nose panel and having the bases thereof hinged to said second end panel for swinging movements of said leg members between normally folded inoperative positions in the plane of said nose panel in its folded position, and operative supporting positions generally normal to said base panels;

(g) a lockable brace member mounted between each leg member and said frame for releasably locking said leg members in the operative positions thereof; and

(h) means for releasably locking said nose panel in said first operative position thereof.

2. The combination luggage case, ironing board and table, defined in claim 1 in which said case includes wall structure defining a normally downwardly opening well adjacent each corner of said base panel and outwardly of said compartment for reception of said brace members and said means for releasably locking the nose panel when said leg members and nose panel are disposed in said folded position thereof.

3. The combination luggage case, ironing board and table defined in claim 1, in which said collapsible support means includes an auxiliary leg member operatively connected to the inside of said nose panel for movements between a folded position flat against said nose panel and an operative supporting position angularly spaced from said folded position, said auxiliary leg member having a floor engaging end normally disposed adjacent said mounting panel, said first end and base panels defining an elongated slot and having portions normally closing said slot and movable inwardly of said compartment to open the slot for passage of said floor engaging end of the auxiliary leg member during movement between said folded and operative positions thereof.

4. The combination luggage case, ironing board and table, defined in claim 1, in which the longitudinal edges of said nose panel and the adjacent edges of said leg members include inturned flanges disposed in face-to-face substantially abutting relationship, when said nose panel and leg members are disposed in their folded positions, the flanges of one of said nose panel and pair of leg members having out-turned longitudinal edge portions providing channels for reception of adjacent longitudinal edge portions of the adjacent flanges, whereby to exclude dust and moisture from the inside of said nose panel and leg members in their folded positions.

5. The combination luggage case, ironing board and table, defined in claim 4, in which said leg members include said channels, the flange edge portions of said nose panel being received in said channels to hold said leg members in their folded positions, when said leg members and nose panel are folded, characterized by locking means on said nose panel and second end panel for releasably locking said nose panel and the leg members in their folded positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,326,337 7/1967 Bell 11 3,326,337 6/1967 Bell 19011 DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

